Faith to Persevere

December 17, 2017 Background Scripture: Acts 14; Colossians 2:6, 7 Lesson Passage: Acts 14:8 – 11, 19 – 23 Perseverance is one of the Articles of Faith that define Baptist Doctrine. Today’s lesson takes a look at some of the tribulation that Paul endured in order to further the work of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to every creature. Because of the trials and tribulations he suffered, Paul demonstrated a life of perseverance. Someone once said that a person can define who they are by what it takes to stop them. Paul set the bar very high in this regard. In light of what he endured, it is difficult to think of very many cases of late where a person or group of professing Christians have truly suffered in this country because of their religious beliefs. In fact, one of the founding principles or rights that Americans hold dear is the right to religious freedom. Paul knew no such freedom in the area of the world where he ministered in the first century. He faced dangers from both his fellow countrymen as well as rulers of other nations. His fellow countrymen, the Jews, orchestrated the attack on him that is part of our lesson text. Paul was stoned and thought to be dead. Therefore, they dragged him outside the city and left him there for scavengers to devour his body. While his fellow Christian disciples stood around him, Paul got up. It is reasonable to assume that the disciples standing around Paul were praying but the text does not indicate that is what happened. What the text does indicate is proof positive of the topic of our lesson. The next day Paul left and went to another city and preached Jesus there and there were people in that city converted to the Christian faith. This was indeed perseverance. Paul could have gotten up and realized that he had survived a stoning and left to return to the Christian congregation in Antioch or perhaps he could have returned home to Tarsus. Instead, he continued to go into Gentile cities and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and win converts. He had experienced a near-death encounter with some angry Jews and a mob incited to violence by them and yet he would not allow that to keep him from the work of preaching the gospel. Paul demonstrated an unwavering faith in the face of bodily harm and even the possibility of death. Paul’s example must have had a profound effect on the other disciples who witnessed his courage in the face of danger. His actions went far beyond encouraging people to accept Jesus as their personal savior and get baptized. He was all about making disciples for Jesus and teaching them the truths of the scriptures so they could grow spiritually and, in turn, become part of the disciple-making process. Paul’s ministry was a demonstration of the Great Commission given by Jesus Christ to his disciples. Having once been a Pharisee, Paul was very knowledgeable about the word of God but that was not enough for the work he had been called to. Paul had an encounter with the risen Lord Jesus on the Damascus road that gave him a personal testimony unlike any other but that was not enough for the work he had been called to. Jesus had warned that Paul would have to suffer many things for him and this would require faith to persevere. Paul demonstrated that he had this type of faith and thanks be to God for it because through his perseverance, he managed to write about half of the New Testament as we know it. Robert C. Hudson November 15, 2017